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Paula Pant launched her own business at age 27, traveled to 30 countries by age 30, and hates cubicles with a passion. Her blog, Afford Anything, is dedicated to becoming money-savvy, crushing limits, and maximizing life. AffordAnything.com is the new gathering spot for a tribe of people who refuse to say, “I’d love to do that ... but I can’t afford it.” Her message is that anyone can build wealth, create financial freedom and quit the corporate grind (if they choose).

But before you ring up the champagne, let me provide a sober word of warning: Don't let this next rung on your career ladder be the beginning of the end of your financial health.

Sometimes, a raise can turn into a curse instead of a blessing. Here are seven common but ill-advised ideas for spending that extra money.

You've been eyeing that fancy new car (or boat), or you've had your eye on upgrading your home, but you haven't been able to swing the down payment. Well, now you've got the money -- right?

Wrong. Just because you can now pony up a down payment, that doesn't mean you can afford the monthly payments you'll have for many years. By using your raise as a down payment on a purchase you still can't technically afford, you're locking yourself into years of unnecessary stress.

What if you're a renter? Sure, you could move into an apartment that costs $150 more a month. But that will be one more "permanent" expense on your budget. You can't easily get out of a lease if you change your mind, lose your job or decide you want to make a career shift.

Ask yourself if you really need a "better" apartment, or if you have all the space you need now -- in which case, you can use that extra cash each month on other things you really do need.

Now that you're in the money, you may be tempted to live the high life (or, at least, a higher life). Lots of people fall into this trap, and it's known as lifestyle inflation -- upgrading your standard of living with every pay raise so that you never use the money for more sensible things, like saving for retirement or paying down your credit card debt.

It's easy to feel the siren call of dinners at fancy restaurants, huge flat-screen TVs, and golf club memberships -- which seem like must-haves now that you're earning more. But making your lifestyle cushier every time your income rises is a vicious cycle, and it's a lot harder to downgrade to your former lifestyle than you may think. Don't feel compelled to up your spending just because you can.

OK, so you realize you shouldn't buy a fancy living room set or spring for a massive flatscreen -- but what about renting to own? You may not be able to afford to buy these things, but renting to own seems like it would be a decent alternative. Right?

Wrong. While the monthly payments at rent-to-own stores may seem reasonable, what you pay in the long run for a new Xbox or stainless steel refrigerator is much more than it would be if you purchased the item outright. For example, Consumer Reports in 2011 calculated that a Toshiba (TOSBF) laptop that cost $612 to buy outright would cost $1,872 at a rent-to-own store. Just like you shouldn't charge items you can't afford to buy, financing them through a rent-to-own agreement is a road to nowhere.

Speaking of financing purchases you can't afford –- avoid using your windfall as an excuse to buy stock on margin.

What's a margin purchase? If you want to buy a lot of stock, but you don't have enough money to do so, you can open a margin account. You'll only be required to put down the initial margin (similar to a down payment), and the brokerage firm lends you the rest of the money.

The trouble with margin buying -- as with any scenario in which you're trying to get more than you can really afford -- is that the longer you hold onto to this stock, more money you'll fork over in interest. And if you can't make your payments? The securities in your margin account serve as collateral.

The returns (and what if the stock goes down?) aren't worth the risk. If you can't afford to buy the shares on your own, don't buy them.

Remember that deli you've always dreamed of owning (even though you have no idea how to run a deli)? Or your brother-in-law's big wacky idea that he promises just can't fail?

Don't use your new income boost to create the down payment on a business loan for these ideas.

Its one thing to invest in an existing business that's rapidly growing. But don't use your bonus or some accumulated pay raise as a down payment on a business loan for an untested business.

Make sure that if you do choose to invest in a business or business idea, it's one that demonstrates a solid future with solid returns. And remember: You won't lose your shirt if you stick with cash investing, rather than leveraged deals.

You're certainly welcome to loan money to a friend or relative if you want, but if you do, you'd better be ready to kiss that relationship goodbye. The instant someone owes you money, relationships become strained, resentments boil up, and things get weird fast.

If you want to help out someone who's going through a rough patch, you're both better off if you find another way of doing so, like helping them revise their résumé to find a new job or offering to bring some groceries to their house.

Paula Pant ditched her 9-to-5 job in 2008. She's traveled to 30 countries, owns six rental units and runs a business from her laptop. Her blog, Afford Anything, is a gathering spot for rebels who refuse to say, "I can't afford it." Visit Afford Anything to learn how to shatter limits and live life on your own terms.

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Saad

This is a garbage article. Don't start a business? Don't give money away? Don't have a better standard of living even if you can afford it? What are you smoking Paula? Do everything opposite of what Paula tells you people, she is only trying to hold you down and prevent you from achieving your dreams!

I am sure with this economy if people have a job and get a raise they are buying food with that money. I was making 12 bucks and hour and got a 1% raise, yep, 12 cents. I told my boss that I was so happy with the raise because I could now buy that villa in Italy.

So what should you do with a pay raise? Stuff it in a mattress, Dream about moving into a better place (by the way Paula, an apartment is not a PERMANENT expense, they are usually leased by the year), count it every now and then and be thankful that I got the raise because counting my money gives me something to do since I can't upgrade my lifestyle.

Seriously, How about making sure your savings reflects your new lifestyle and several months payments (incase of emergency) and just budget to stay within your limits.